Can-soldering machine



lA/y L. J. CHARLAND CAN soLDERING MACHINE Filed Jun 2]. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet -1 "K SK VN ww.

L. J. CHARLAND CAN SOLDERING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented @et 9, 1&23.

ilTrEDv STATES PATENT OFFICE.`

LOUIS J. C'HARLAND, 0F RICHMOND, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BORDEN COMPANY,

OF, NEXV YORK, N. Y., A. CORPRATION OF NEW JERSEY.

cANLsoLDnnINc MACHINE.

Application filed .Tune 21, 1920.

To all ytri/720m t 72mg/ concern:

Beit known that Louis J. CHARLAND, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Richmond, in thecounty of Chittenden and State of Vermont, lhave invented a new and useful Can-Soldering Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to those machines by aidof which are soldered together the sides and the flanges of the ends of cylindrical metallic cans, and the objects of my invention comprise provision of'means whereby such solderingan be accomplished more rapidly and perfectly, and with greater economy of labor, power and solder than heretofore. i

l attain my objects byaid of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-*- i y,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine;

yFigure 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view the line 2-'2 of Figure 1, viewed in the direction of the arrow, 'and the parts shown being ony enlarged scale; f

Figure?) illustrates a cross-section taken on the line 3*3 of Figure l, viewedA in the direction of the arrow; c

Figure 4 is, on enlarged scale, plan, or top, View, of the solder troughv and adjacent parts; f

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view illustratingr) diagrammatically a modified form of parte `of' the apparatus;

Figure 6 is, on enlarged scale, a Central Alongitudinel sectional view illustrative of the cans referred to; and` Figure 7 is, on still more enlarged sca-le,

a detail fragmentary, cross-sectional View illustrative of the projection of the solder above the guide tracks.

` rlhe cans, C', C, to which my invention relates are of the well known type illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings, and consist usually of' a cylindrical member known as the body Fi, (constituting the sides b', of the can), the two otherwise open opposite apertures of the body being each respectively Y enclosed by one of the two members known as the heads or ends e, e, which latter are discs each provided with a there! from singularly-proje'cting circumferential flange l, f, within which the body is, in assembling, telescoped; the :parte being perthe can.

serial No. 390,486.

manently secured together, or sealed,` preferably hermetically, by means of molten solder, s, inserted to plug the interspace, or joint, between the interior of the fianges and the outsides of the body.

rThe` types of metallic cans to which my invention especially relates comprise particlarly those at present usually employed ais containers'of condensed, or evaporated, milk, the constituent sheet metalof which is of very thin-gauge, say from .0091l to .0114 and from which it follows that the increment of diameter locally imparted to the cans by'their flanges isy practically negli-v gible in the operation'of my apparatus as hereinafter described.y

Numerous apparatuses usually comprehensively designated as floaters have, with more or less efficiency and economy, been hitherto cmployed'to effect application of the molten solder toi the joints. All of these have, of course, comprised, for' the solder, van elongated container variously referred to as 'the trough the tank, or the bowl etc. Thesetroughs have, in industrial practice, been hitherto substantially uncovered, i. e., widely enough open to admit ofmore or lessactual immersion of substantial portions `of the cans into the solder, as, for example., a considerable corner of the can thus including not only its joint but also parts of its sides, of both of its flanges, and of its head, or ends, the cans being, by aid of suitably disposed lrde rails and conveyors, chains or belts, rolled forward through the solder in the trough while their axes of rotation are inclined Vto the horizontal. This has necessitatednn all cases, ytwo similar operations o-r treatmentstV one for each of the two opposite joints of These previousV floaters are of the type sho-wn, for example, in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,022,770. By these former procedures much solder, in excess of what required. to seal the joints, has been, in the trough, deposited and undesirably retained upon the fiangesand ends of the ca'ns, thereby necessitating severa-l additional operations` to: remove it whether for appearance or econoinyo'r both; these operationsincluding the now well known subjecting of theI undesirably solder-smeared surfaces of cans to the cleansing action of 'rotatin,- brushes and involving a separate*-br`ushing of not only each of their opposite sides and flanges, but also of each end.

1t has also been attempted to reduce the amount of solder applied to the can by ,forcn inga portion of the solder into a. comparatively narrow channel'venting above the level ofthe remainder of the mass Within the trough, and by rolling the cans in such relation to the solder accumulated in suoli channel that the ends are notI immersed; but in all the apparatus designed for this purpose, so ,far as known to me, there has been an intentionally greater, orless, accumulation at all times of solder Within the channel, and a wasteful overflow of solder the-refrom, the solder thus imapplied to` the cans being undesirably cooled. and particularly exposed to detrimental atmospheric influence.

yMy invention isbased not only on my discovery that the joints can be more tightly, better, and more economically, sealed, Without. immersing any part. of the can in the of the cans, nor With their Aflanges,'except bears much of the mass, or bath, of molten only momentarily during the brushing off of the inconsiderable, if any, surplus, the advantages of which Will, I believe', be obvious Without furtherl amplification.

Basicly considered my invention comprises the addition to the solder-container, or trough, 7, of an eXtendedly covering member, 7', hereinafter referred to as the cover,

and against the under surface of which solder. This cover may contain an opening, or inlet, 8, for therethrough supplyingsolder as required to the bath, or such .inlet may be elsewhere located,

The cover may be connected With the trough in any convenient manner, 'but is, preferably, unitaryk therewith, being, as indicated in the drawings, a part of the same casting.

I provide the cover Ywith an'outlet 10, and, in extension thereof and, preferably, as a part of the cover, with a horizontally-longitudinally extending, therefrom upwardly projecting, spout, the, in this instance, up- Wardly projected longitudinal, sides, or walls, of which are respectivelyy` indicated 9, 9', in th-edrarvings, and the longitudinal top'of which, embracingitsfree edges, 9",

ing, vent, or slot, 11 for delivery therethrough,y and through the spout, of units of the solder from. the molten mass thereof in the trough, and their projection to Contact With the cans.

It will be noted that the said vent 11 contacts with the tread of the track referred toas shown for example in Figure '(7.

It may also be noted that by means of this construction the solder from the tank, at the moment of its. delivery t0 thecan, is

- raised not only abovethe main-portion of the mass of molten solder below it, but; is

also elevated well above the top of the cover and to such an extent and in. such a manner that accidental overflowingsfrom the orifice if any, are by gravity promptly led away therefrom and to locationsy upon the top; of the cover undetrimental. to continuous, unclogged operation with thus unexposed solder, and whence readily recovered: for future puriiicaton and use. l

The tank and its contents are raised to, and maintained at, the usual temperatures for ensuring required liquescence of the solder by aid. of any usual-means, as for instance burners, 12, (Figs. 1 and 2), and tlie solder is, in any yconvenient man-ner, supplied to the tank" through the inlet, .8, as by immersion therein of the endoffa bar, 13, there-of, and automatically graduatedly, or otherwise, in any usual, Well known, Way, the level of the molten solder is constantly maintained slightly aboreV that of the discharge orifice, 11 and thus to ensure a continuous outflow of solder through sai-d oritice Vin quantity as nearly as possible proportioned to What therefrom carriedoff by the vcans as hereinafter described. The op-V eration is such that, under the conditions mentioned, the solider is, by gravity, abetted by the construction, forced up through? the orifice, 11, and by reason of the'rel'a-tive constriction ofr the passage, 10, andI ofthe ii' Ligure 5,

of the solder is not allowed to otherwise accumulate, nor to stand, nor to overflow, ex posed to oxidation or cooling, after its einergence from the oriice, or slot, of the spout; but, on the contrary, is normally, in its therefrom natant state, brought into essentiallyv immediate contact with, and progressively carried off by, the cans.

lt will be noted that the interior surfaces of the sides, 9, 9, of the spout incline toward each other, thc passage, 10, being thus progressively upwardly constricted, which, l believe, also contributes to the projection of the solder and its remaining temporarily bulged above the orifice, as above described.

l have, in the foregoing, described the cover as being provided with only one of my above described combinations of spout and track, but it will be understood that, as shownin Figure 2, which illustrates my duple/X and, for certain purposes, preferred forni ofthe apparatus, a pair of these identical spouts disposed in mutual parallelism, are employed, this being the case when the solder is to be applied to both joints simultaneouslyy of the cans, as above referred to.

lt is of importance that, durine the operation,'the discharge orifices, ll, should be as nearly level as possible in the constructions shown in Figures 2 and T, or, and also, at an indicated transverse inclination as shown in In order to more certainly and readily attain and maintain such level, 'or also inclination, l construct the trough detached from, or i'novable relatively to the. remainder of the apparatus, and provide means for readily imparting thereto, and lChus to said orifices, their required horizontality, or also inclination. To this end, l provide means, each operated independently of the others. to respectively differentially raise or lower a` differentone of the four corner, or Vmost corner-wisely projecting, portions of the trough, or solder container, relatively to the stationary frame, or base, of the appa atus. rlhese means, in the pres ent instance, comprise providing the trough with therewith connecting extensions, or arms, lll, projecting from adjacent the corners thereof over the top or other stationary portion, or base, of the frame l5,

`the said frame being of any preferred con struction suitable for the purpose. Through each arm l-l is threaded an adjusting leveling screw 16, carrying a usual loclcnut 16. The lower, or free, ends of these screws bear upon the top of this relatively stationary supporting part, or base, and by turning them respectivelv as may be indicated not only is the required level, but also inclinau tion, impartable to the oriiices and to the therefrom projected bulge of the solder.

The cans are, as shown, rolled forward upon one, or both, of the treads S', 9', by aid of a usual ,uit-able belt, or chain, l?,

bearing downwardly upon their sides and propelled from any convenient source of power, not shown. Y

l provide means, as is mostimportant, to contribute to the support and guidance of the cans over my said spoutetracls, and therefrom projecting solder, such positions as to ensure that their sides, as distinguished from their ends, or flanges, shall be presented to the delivery orifices and the therefrom issuing solder, and in such relatioirthereto that the l ands of solder thereby applied shall b-e upon the sides only of the cans, but as nearly as possible to the joint without extending therefrom ontoy the ianges. To this end, l employ, in proper relation and position, convenient, or usual, guide rails, 18, as, for example, as shown in Figures l and 2, pair of oppo itely disposed usual end-guide rails, or, in

cases in whiclronly one of my spouts is emv ployed, and it is desired to treat the can in an inclined position, shown in Figure 5, an additional rail,l8` may be employed as indicated in the drawing. f

It will also be noted that in the construction illustrated in Figure 5, the mutually parallel edges of the apex of the spout constituting the track have been trimmed to a transverse inclination corresponding with that of the can.

The construction is such that the cans must berolled forward over the soldervent while bearing and downwardly pressed upon at least one of the two threads of a track with which the edge of the vent contacts,j and it is preferable to, in all cases, trim the treads relatively to each other so as to ensure as `far as practicable under normal industrial conditions such bearing of the can through` out its run upon simultaneously both treads, and` thus on each side of the vent, this obviously involving the making of more or less allowance toy accommodate projection of the slight thickness of the iiange beyond the surface ofthe sides. ln Figures 2 and 5, the treads are intended to be shown as thus accommodated to the difference in diameter of the can at flange and side, and the treads of Figure 7 are to be understood subject to making such allowance, it being impossible to indicate the same accurately on a drawing of the scale and character of the drawing owing to the very great relative thinness of the metall i. e., from .0091 to .0114 as abovestated. But it will be understood that absolute exactness in difference of grade of the treads relatively to each other is negligible unless cans of unusually thick metal are involved, since the usual. very small differences in diameter are insufficient to prevent the can from pracM tically bridging the vent progressively and momentarily during the run.

lt will be understood that an appropriate flux has been, in any of the usual ways, suitably applied to the joints vof the cans prior to their being rolled over my soldersuppl'ying combination of spout and track, as aboveA described. The cans are, as aforesaid, guided at this stage so as to ensure Vtheir taking 'up of the solder from the spouts plugging of the joint by the solder; but.

l lind it preferable, if not essential, in cases in which` absolutely hermetic sealing is required, to 'combine with my said floater a therewith cooperating rotary brush, 19, or, in cas-"es in which the 'cans have been treated horizontally and simultane'ously at both joints, a pair, 19, i9, of such brushes, as

indicated in Figures 1 and 3, these being mutually oppositely disposed behind, and having their axes of rotation parallel with, the slots of the tracks orguides, andvtheir operative edges respectively disposed to sweep in opposite directions against the sides and the flanges in the direction of. as distinguished from against, the respective'euds of the sans. The brush,'or brushes, are, as shown in the drawings, of the usual longitudinally extended form, respectivelyT carried by shafts, Q0, rotatorily mounted in a suitable stationary part ofthe apparatus, foreizampldin the instance shown in Figures l and 3, in the'vertical sides, or Walls, off a usualY casing, T211, by which thc cans, the 'brushes and the therefrom-flying solder are confinedl Usual means for imparting rotation in opposite directions to the said shafts and their brushes are pro vided, as for example, the pulleys, 22, 22', carried by the shaftsand usual belts, 22, 22h. coopera-ting with said pulleys, and propelled bj.' aid of a pulley, 22C, and therewith cooperating belt, 2251, from a source ofpower not shown. Usual means, for example, a bcl-t,-23, are also provided to, in the usual manner, roll thecans forwardly between the brushes, such belt bei-ng actuated by usual means (not shown) and the cansl being meanwhile supported 'on a usualV track, 24, and guided by lateral end guide rails, 25, shown. It follows from the construction describedl that a single treatment, by one brush only, of each end, or joint, of the can suii'ces to not only ensure the :driving of fthe solder into any as yet insufficiently filledpa-rts 'of the joint, but also to remove for future use 'all superfluous Vsolder from that end of the can. It further 'followsthat when theV solder is 'applied simultaneously to both joints 0f the cans, as per my preferred construction shown in Figures l and 2, a single brushing operation during which the twobrushes are acting simultaneously each respectively at an opposite end of the can, as showni-n Figures l and is sufficient, thus dispensing with the sequential and more numerous former brushings above referred to.

An incidental, but important, advantage of my above described construction isthatthe cans are` not, as heretofore too often, unduly locally heated by the former actual, and relatively prolonged, immersion of parts thereof. into the bathmaintained at the melting point of the solder. To ensure, however, proper .and more uniformly distributed temperatures throughout the cans during the operation, l employ, as may be indicated, pluralities, or groups, of usual. gas burners,

2G, disposed appropriately along the patho way of the cans so as to apply and maintain required heat.

. Having now described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is the following, viz:

1Q An apparatus for soldering cylindrical cans comprising a solder-container, or trough, having a cover provided with a horisontally-longitudinally extended, upwardly projecting, spout, the top ofwhich is in part divided by therethrough medialV erforation', or slot, for the solder, into a bifurcated track for Vthe cans having mutually parallel treads .respectively bounding opposite sides of the slot; means to downpress the cans against simultaneously both of said treads and meanwhile roll them forward, and means to meanwhile feed solder upwardly through the slot continuously.

2. An apparatus for soldering cylindrical cans comprising a soldercontainer, or trough, having a cover provided with a. horizontally-longitudinally extended, upwardly projecting, spout, the ltop of which is in part divided by a therethrough medial perforation, or slot, for the solder, into bifurcated can-supporting track having mutually parallel treads respectively bounding opposite sides of the slot; means to downpress the cans against simultaneously both of said treads and meanwhile roll them forward; rails disposed to meanwhile guide the cans so that portions of their sides, as distinguished from their ends or flanges, shall pass over the slot, and means to meanwhile feed solder upwardly through the slot continuously. i

-3. In an apparatus for soldering cylindrical cans a solder-container, or trough, having 'a cover provided with a horizontallylongitudinally extended, therefrom upwardly projecting, spout, the top of which constitutes a can-supporting track medially divided into twormutually parallel, flat-surfaced, treads by a longitudinally extended,

llt"

laren/ie relatively constricted, discharge opening, or slot, for delivery therethrough of solder from the trough; in combination with a rotatory brush disposed behind, and having its axis of rotation parallel with, said slot and its operat-ive edge disposed to sweep the sides and flanges, as distinguished from the ends, of the cans; means bearing downwardly upon the cans toroll them forward bearing upon bot-hof said treads simultaneously; means to ensure presentation to the slot of the sides of the cans, as distinguished from the'ends, or flanges; and means to meanwhile feed solder upwardly through the slot continuously.

l. In an apparatus for soldering cylindrical cans, a solder-container, or trough, having an inlet for solder, and a cover provided with two Ahorizontally -longitudinally extending, therefrom upwardly projecting spouts, the longitudinally extended tops of which constitute tracks, for the cans; and the operative surfaces of which arev elevated above the upper surface of the cover and are each perforated by a relatively constricted discharge opening, or slot, for delivery therethrough of solder from the trough; in combination with a pair of mutually oppositely disposed, rotatory, spaced-apart brushes disposed behind, and 'having their axes of rotation parallel with said slots and their operative edges respectively disposed to sweep in opposite directions against the sides and flanges as distinguished from the ends of the cans; means contributing to movably support the cans over said slots with portions of their sides as distinguished from their ends or flanges presented thereto; means for forwardly rolling a plurality of cans simultaneously upon said tracks while so guided, and thence between said brushes; and means for meanwhile rotating said brushes.

5. An apparatus for soldering cylindrical cans comprising a relatively stationary frame, or base; a thereby movably supported solder container provided with a therefrom upwardly projecting spout having an elongated opening for solder bounded on each side thereof by portions of the topmost surfaces of the spout to constitute treads of a bifurcated track for the cans; means to roll the cans forward upon said treads while bearing upon both of them simultaneously; means to guide'the cans while so rolling; means to meanwhile continuously feed solder upwardly through the slot to above the level of said treads; and respective means each independently operative to respectively raise or lower differentially from eachother the four corners of the solder container relatively to said base, whereby the inclination of the plane of said opening and treads is indefinitely variable and adjustable.

6. rin apparatus for soldering cylindrical cans comprising a relatively stationary frame, or base; a thereby movably supported solder container provided with therefrom upwardly projecting spout having` an elongated opening for solder bounded on each side thereof by portions of the topinost surfaces of the spout to constitute treads of a bifurcated track for the cans; means to roll the cans forward upon said treads while bearing upon both of them simultaneously; means to guide the cans while so rolling; means to meanwhile continuously feed solder upwardly through the slot to above the level of said treads; and respective means, comprising screws having their free ends bearing upon said base, each independently operative to respectively raise or lower differentially from each other the four corners of the solder container relatively to said base, whereby the inclination of the plane of said opening and treads is indefinitely variable and adjustable.

7. An apparatus soldering cylindrical earns comprising a rel tively stationary frame, or base; a thereby movably supported solder container provided with two mutually parallel therefrom upwardly projecting elongated spouts, each having an elongated opening for solder bounded on each side thereof by portions of the topmost surfaces of the spout to constitute the treads of a bifurcated 'tr-ach for the cans; means to roll the cans forward upon all of said treads simultaneously; means to guide the cans while so rolling; means to meanwhile continuously feed solder upwardly; through the slots to above the levels of said treads; and respective means each independently operative to respectively raise or lower differentially from each other the four corners .of the solder container relatively to said base, whereby the inclination of the plane of said openings vand treads is indefinitely variable and adjustable.

8. ln an apparatus for soldering cylindrical cans a solder-container, or ltrough, having an inlet for solder, and a cover provided with a horizontally-longitudinally extending therefrom upwardly projecting spout, the longitudinally extended top of which constitutes a track for the cans having mutually parallel treads bounding laterally a. relatively constricted discharge opening', or slot, for delivery therethrough of solder from the trough; in combination with means to continuously upwardly feed solder through the slot to above the level of said treads; means for forwardly rollingI a plurality of cans simultaneously upon said treads while bearing upon both of said treads simultaneously; means to, while so rolling, guide the cans over said slot with portions of their sides as distinguished from their ends or danges presented thereto;

Vits axis of rotation parallel with,

a rotary brush disposed behind, and having said slot and its operative edge disposed to sweep against the sides and; flanges, as distinguished from the ends, ot the cans; means 1for forwardly rolling the Cans while their ksides are contacting with the brush, and

means to roll theeans forward while bearing on said treads.

l0. Apparatus for soldering Cylindrical sans comprising a solder container, or trough, having a @over provided with a therefrom upwardly projecting longitudinally extended spout havin@A part of its top in the form of a track and Containing a progressively upwardly eonstricted interior passage for solder venting where most eonstrieted into Contact with said track,

means to continuously Ytorce solder 'from the trough to slightly above the level of said.

vent and of a tread ofsaid track; and means to meanwhile downpress the Cans upon said tread and roll them forward, whereby solder is applied to the cans at the moment or itsy emergence from said passage.

1.1.. Apparatus for soldering cylindrical earns comprising a solder Container, or trough, having a Cover provided with aA therefrom upwardly projecting longitudinally extended spout having part of its top in the form of a' track and containing an interior passage for solder having its vent in Contact with a tread of said track; means to Continuously 'force solde-r from they trough through said vent to above the Y level of said tread; andA means to meanwhile downpress the Cans upon said tread andv roll them forward, whereby solder is applied to the Cans at theV moment of, its emergence from said passage.

l2; Apparatus for soldering cylindrical Cans comprising a solder container, or trough, having, a Cover provided with ai therefrom upwardly projecting longitudi-I nally extended spout having a therethrough upwardly delivering longitudinally ex*- tended narrow slot, or vent, Jfor the solder;

means vto roll the Cans along said. slot theirL sides in Contact with the edge of the most eonstricted part thereof; and means to meanwhile force solder from the trough through saidy vent to above the level of' its saldi edge whereby the solder is applied to:- the sansV atv the moment'. of its emergence from said mostrconstrieted: part of said vent,

LQUIS J". GHARLAND 

